mcgrath



April 14, 1931. w McGRATH I Re. 18,040

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Nov. 13, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1931. wMCGRATH Re. 18,040

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Nov. 13, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 II I Inf/67%? M V4.44; fl me v W April 14, 1931. w L, MCGRAT-H Re. 18,040

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Nov. 13, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 772M655Uzi/4792 771m Zia/M. /rifi JAM, awn/ M1,

Reiaaued Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAIIa. IQGRATH,OI ELKIBA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T ECLIPSE CHINE 0O!- rm, OF MIRA, NEWYORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE STARTER Original Io. 1,806,518,dated November 8, 1881, lerlal No. 887,725, filed November 13, 1818.Application for reissue fled August 19, 1882. Serial No. 583,083.

My invention pertains to engine starters and relates more particularlyto the drive or transmission portion thereof interposed between theprime mover such as an electric motor and a member of the engine to bestarted, such as the fly wheel thereof. The object of my invention is toprovide a simple, eflicient and reliable drive of a type characterizedby the manual operation of the driving 1 member of the drive forengagement or meshin with the fly wheel and by the automaticisengagement of such driving member when the engine has started on itsown power. In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional eleeation of astarter system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 an end elevation thereof;Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 a sectionalelevation of a modie0 fied form of construction.

For the urposes of a clear and definite description have selected one ofmany embodiments of my invention, the same being here shown as of thesingle reduction type in which the drive is direct driven by the motor,although it may be indirectly driven, and may have other modificationsand may partake of other forms without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

so As shown the starting motor 1 has an extended armature shaft 2journaled at its outer end in a bearing 3' provided by the inclosingcasing or bracket 3 which is secured to or supported by the motor frame.This rotatable or drive shaft 2 is provided intermediate its length withspiral splines 4.

The driving member is here in the form of a pinion 5 and is providedwith a corresponding spiral splines in its central bore to coact withthe splines of the shaft, with the result that the pinion is mountedthereon for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewithafter its longitudinal movement has been arrested by contact with thestop nut 6, at which time the pinion is in' engagement or mesh with thefly wheel 7. The pinion is provided with an inwardly extending sleeve orhub portion 8 terminating,

in ahead 9 which is provided on its forward side with the irregular orcam surface 10,

ada ted to cooperate with the rolls of the shi ing fork hereinafterdescribed.

The means for shiftin the pinion which are operated by hand or oot asdesired, consists of a de ressible plunger and lever connections anshifter interposed between it and the pinion head. The shifter consistsof a sleeve 11 mounted toslide on a shaft or rod 12 suitably mounted inthe casing 3. This sleeve is provided with the fork or bifurcated arms13 carrying at their lower ends rolls 14 adapted to cooperate with thetrack or irregular surfacelO of the: pinion head. The upper outer cornerof this sleeve 11 is shaped to form a recess 15 with a high shoulder orside 16 and a low shoulder or side 17 The lever connections for shiftingthe sleeve 11 consists of a bell crank 18 ivoted at 19 at the upper endof the vertical racket arms 20 rising from the top of the casing 3. Thelower or vertical arm of the bell crank enters within the recws 15 andis provided at its lower outer corner with a small finger 21 pivotedthereto at 22. The bell crank is held in its normal position illustratedby a yielding pressure which is here afforded by means of the torsionspring 23 encircling the pivot pin 19 and connected at its ends with anarm 20 and with the bell crank with the result that any movement of suchbell crank in an anticlockwise direction is resisted by the spring.

The upper or horizontal arm of the bell crank is operated by thevertical plunger 24 passing through and guided by suitable supports suchas the floor board 25 of an auto mobile, and by a horizontal plate 26therebelow. This plunger is normally held in the position shown by thecoiled spring 27, and such plunger carries at its lower end a lateralarm 28 which is provided at its outer end with an adjustable screw 29adapted to contact and operate the bell crank.

The plunger 24 is invertical alinement with a movable element of aswitch 30, here shown as attached to the motor frame and adapted tocontrol the electrical circuit of the motor.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with the parts in theirnormal position shown in Fig. 1, depression of the plunger 24 by hand orfoot will oscillate the bell crank to the first dotted line position,with the result that the finger 21 will engage the shoulder 17 and thenmove the sleeve longitudinally along its supporting shaft 12. The

fork or arms 13 will thereupon shift the pin-,

ion to the right into engagement with the fly wheel. In this movementthe pinion is rotated slightly by reason of the splines. Theconstruction and arrangement may be such that full mesh of the pinionmay be established by hand or only a partial mesh, after which thestarting motor when operated will establish full mesh and subsequentrotation of the pinion and the fly wheel. When the plunger hassubstantially reached its lower limit of depression it will contact andoperate the switch 30, whereupon the motor will be operated and thedrive shaft 2 rotated, with the result that the pinion 5 if not in fullmesh is automatically brought into full mesh and the fly wheel rotated.When the engine has started on its own power the pinion will beautomatically demeshed in the well-known manner. In this operation thetorsion spring 23 will return the bell crank and the sleeve 11 to normalposition, the pivoted finger 21 riding over the outer corner of suchsleeve and then taking its position with the lower end of the bell crankarm within the recess 15. This finger is provided to enable thereengagement of the bell crank with such recess after the pinion hasbeen demeshed through the starting of the engine before the manualrelease of the bell crank. The first set of dotted lines represents theposition of the sleeve 11 at the time of partial mesh, and the second oroutermost set to the right representing the position of such sleeve whenin full mesh.

In the event that the meshing operation is not perfect, as when theteeth of the pinionand fly wheel abut end to end. the movement of theplunger will thereby be stopped before contacting the starting switch30. On releasing the plunger the torsion spring on the bell crank willwithdraw the pinion through the shifting fork, the rolls of the lattercontacting the irregular surface 10.

Should this contact occur at the bottom of such cam surface as indicatedin the drawing, it will prevent the turning of the pinion duringretraction and will cause a slight turning of the shaft. 1 Should thecontact occur at a point other than the bottom of the irregular surface,it will cause the turning of the pinion and of course the shafttherewith. In either case, the nextattempt at starting will then cause adifierent registration of the teeth and meshing will be accomplished.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of construction whichdiffers from the one already described in the provision of a yieldingdriving connection between the driving shaft and the pinion. Accordingto this construction the drive shaft 31 of the motor is a short hollowstub shaft ada ted to receive the inner end of the rotatable aft 32 ofthe drive. These two shafts are operatively connected by a yieldingdriving connection which is here a coiled driving spring 33 connected atits opposite ends to the two shafts 31 and 32 by means of the studs 34and 35, respectively. The pinion 5 is the same in construction andoperation as that already described, and is mounted upon the drive-shaft32 in the same manner as the other pinion was mounted upon the driveshaft 2.

The shifter means are manually or pedally operable which for convenienceI have herein designated as manual operation, as distinguished frompower or from automatic operation. v

I claim 1. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, adriving member mounted thereon forv rotary movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement thereof to engage a part of the engine to bestarted, and means adapted to cause such longitudinal movement of thedriving member and to retract the same and also to cause a slight r0-tary movement thereof on its retracting movement away from such enginepart.

2. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movementtherewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, and

means adapted to cause such longitudinal movement of the driving memberand to retract the same, said means and driving member having elementscooperating with each other on the retracting movement of such memberaway from such engine part to cause a slight rotary movement thereof.

3. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, andhaving a cam face thereon, and manually operated means adapted to causesuch longitudinal movement of the driving member and to retract the samesuch means cooperating with such cam face on the retracting movementthereof away from such engine part to cause a slight rotary movementthereof.

4. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and driving member wherebythe latter is caused to rotate slightly.

5. An' engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a drivingmember mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement thereof to engage a part of the engine to bestarted, and having at one end a sleeve extension terminating in a headprovided on its inner side with a cam face, and a shifter adapted whenmoved in one direction to shift the, driving member longitudinally andto engage thecam face on its return movement to cause a slight rotarymovement of the driving member.

6. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, saidshaft and member having corresponding spiral splines, and means actingon the driving member and adapted to cause such longitudinal movementthereof, and to cause a slight rotary movement thereof on its retractingmovement away from such engine part.

7. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, saidshaft and member having corresponding spiral splines, and means actingon the driving member and adapted to cause such longitudinal movementthereof, and to cause a slight rotary movement thereof on its retractingmovement away from such engine part, said means being manually operated.

8. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, and meansfor shifting the driving member comprising a supporting shaft arrangedparallel to the rotatable shaft, :1. shifter mounted to slide on thesupporting shaft and having arms operatively connected with the drivingmember, and a lever o eratively connected with the shifter for shiftingit a predetermined distance but adapted to detach itself therefrom forthe remainder of the distance, and to reengage therewith when returnedto normal position.

9. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a driving membermounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinalmovement thereof to engage a part of the engine to be started, and meansfor shifting the driving member comprising a supporting shaft arrangedparallel to the rotatable shaft, a shifter mounted to slide on thesupporting shaft and having arms operatively connected with the drivingmember, and a lever o eratively connected with the shifter for shiftingit a predetermined distance but adapted to detach itself therefrom forthe remainder of the distance, and to reengage therewith when returnedto normal positlon, said shifter being pressed to normal position with ayielding pressure and acting on the driving member'to restore it tonormal position.

10. An en ine starter drive including a rotatable sha t, a drivingmember mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement thereof to engage a part of the engine to bestarted, and means for shifting the driving member comprising asupporting shaft, arranged parallel 'to the rotatable shaft, a shiftermounted to slide on the supporting shaft and having arms operativelyconnected with the drivin member, and a lever operatively connecte withthe shifter'for shlfting it a predetermined distance but adapted todetach itself therefrom for the remainder of the distance, and toreengage therewith when returned to normal EOSltlOIl, and a springacting on the lever to old the same and the shifter and also the drivinmember in a normal position.

11. 11 engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a drivingmember mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith andfor-longitudinal movement thereof to engage a part of the engine to bestarted, and means for shifting the driving member comprising asupporting shaft arranged parallel to the rotatable shaft, a shiftermounted to slide on the supporting shaft and having arms opera- 'tivelyconnected with the driving member,

said shifter having a recess, a lever having one end normally positionedin such recess and bearing against the shifter to hold it ,in normalposition and having a pivoted finger on such end and adapted tocooperate with the recess to move the shifter a predetermined distanceand then clear the recess and subsequently return thereunto and a singlemeansfor restoring the parts to normal position.

12. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a drivingmember mounted thereon for rotary movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement thereof to engage a part of the engine to bestarted, and means for shifting the driving member comprising asupporting shaft arranged parallel to the rotatable shaft, a shiftermounted to slide on the supporting shaft and having arms operativelyconnected with the driving member and normally bearing thereagainst witha yielding pressure, a bell crank having one arm operatively connectedwith the shifter, and a manually operated plunger for actuating the bellcrank.

13. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a drivingmember mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage apart of the engine to be started and rotary movement therewith, andmeans adapted to cause such longitudinal movement of the driving memberand to retract the same and also to cause a slight rotary movementthereof on its retracting movement away from the engine part, a drivingshaft, and a yielding driving connection between the two shafts.

14. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a drivingmember mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage apart of the engine to be started and rotary movement therewith, andmeans adapted to cause such longitudinal movement of the driving memberand to retract the same and also to cause a slight rotary movementthereof on its retracting movement away from the engine part, a drivingshaft, and a spring drive between the two shafts.

15. An engine starter drive including, in combination with an electricstarting motor and with an. electrical switch therefor, and with asource of electrical energy, a rotatable shaft operated by the motor, adriving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof toengage apart of the engine to be started and for rotary movementtherewith, said member and shaft having cooperating means for causinglongitudinal advancement of such member when the shaft is rotated,manually operated means for shifting said driving member longitudinallyinto engagement with the engine member, and means for operating theswitch to rotate the motor by directly connecting the motor and saidsource of energy prior to full engagement between the driving member andthe engine member.

16. An engine starter drive including, in combination with an electricstartin motor and with an electrical switch there or, and with a sourceof electrical energy, a rotatable shaft operated by the motor, a drivingmember mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to enga e apart of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith, saidmember and shaft having cooperating means for causing longitudinaladvancement of such member when the shaft is rotated, manually operatedmeans for shifting said driving member longitudinally into engagementwith the engine member, an operating connection between said shaft andmotor including a yielding driving connection, and means for operatingthe switch to rotate the motor by directly connecting the motor and saidsource of ener prior to full engagement between the driving member andthe engine member.

17. An engine starter drive including, in combination with an electricstarting motor and with an electrical switch therefor, and with a sourceof electrical energy, a rotatable shaft operated by the motor, a drivingmember mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to en a e apart of the engine to be started am? r rotary movement therewith, saidmember and shaft having cooperating means for causing longitudinal avancement of such member when the shaft is rotated, manually operatedmeans for shifting said driving member longitudinally into engagementwith the engine member, an operating connection between said shaft andmotor including a drive spring through which the torque is transmitted,and means for operating the switch to rotate the motor by directlyconnecting the motor and said source of energy prior to full engagementbetween the driving member and the engine member.

18. An engine starter drive including, in combination with an electricstarting motor and with an electrical switch therefor, a rotatable screwshaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereof toengage a part of the engine to be started, and for rotary movementtherewith, manually operated means for shifting said pinionlongitudinally into engagement with the engine member, a drivingconnection between the motor and the shaft, and means for operating theswitch to rotate the .motor, said parts being so constructed and timedthat the motor will be rotated and permitted to accelerate before'thepinion is fully engaged with the engine member.

19. An engine-starter drive including, in combination with an electricstarting motor and with an electrical switch therefor, a rotatable screwshaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to enge a part of the engine to be started, and Edi rotary movementtherewith, manually operated means for shifting said pinionlongitudinally into engagement with the engine member, a drivingconnection between the motor and the shaft, and means for operating theswitch to rotate the motor, said parts being so constructed and timedthat the motor will be started rotating when the pinion is partiallyengaged with the engine member and will be accelerated before the pinionis fully engaged therewith.

20. An engine starter drive including, in combination with an electricstarting motor and with an electrical switch therefor, a rotatable screwshaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereof toengage a part of the engine to be started, and for rotary movementtherewith, manually operated means for shifting said pinionlongitudinally into engagement with the engine member, a yieldingdriving connection comprising a coiled spring located between the motor,and the shaft, and means for operating the switch to rotate the motor,said parts being so constructed and timed that the motor will be rotatedwithout load and be thereby combination with an electric start' motorand with a switch therefor, a rotatab e shaft operated by the motor, I adriving member mounted thereon for 10 'tudinal movement thereof toengage a mem r of the engine to be started and for rotary movementtherewith, said member and shaft havin cooperating means for causinglongitu inal advancement of such member when the shaft is rotated,manually operated means for shifting said drivin member longitudinallyinto engagement wi the engine member, an operating connection betweensaid shaft and motor includi means automatically yieldable in conformitywith the resistance to rotation for gradually building up torque toovercome said a 0e, and means for operatingthe switch rotate the motorprior to full 0 1, nt between the driving memher and e engine member.

22. An engine starter drive including a motor driven rotatable shaft, adri member mounted thereon for longitudina move-' ment thereof to enga amember of the en- 'ne to be started an for rotary movement erewith,manually operated means for shifting said driving member longitudinallyinto e cut with the engine member, means outside the line oftransmission of starting torque for rotating such driving member to aposition for the engagement of the driving member and the engine memberin the event of non-register of their engaging parts, and means actuatedby the rotation of the shaft for assuring or com leting full engagementwith the englne mem r and for automatically disengagin the drivingmember from the engine mem er when the engine operates under its ownpower.

"23. An engine starter drive including a motor driven rotatable shaft, adriving member mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to enge a member of the en- 'ne to be started an for rotary movement terewith, manually operated means for shifting said driving memberlongitudinally into engagement with the engine member means outside theline of transmiss1on 0 starting torque for rotating such driving memberto a position for the engagement of the driving member and the enginemember in the event of non-register of their enga ing parts, and screwthread means actuate by the rotation of the shaft for assuring orcompleting full engagement with the engine member and for automaticallydisengaging the driving member from the engine member when the engineoperates un er its own power.

24. An engine starter drive includmg a rotatable shaft, a pinionthreaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereof n one ram 5pfi'lmitted to accelerate before the inion is direction to engage amember of the engine y w1th the ne mem r. to be started and or rotamovement there- 21. An engine starter 1ve including, in with and alsofor longitu inal movemenr'n the opposite direction automatically byreason of the threaded connection between such shaft and inion to causedisengagement of the latter rom the engine member when the engineoperates under its own power, said driving member being in the form of apinion hav' a portion at one and provided with irregularities, andmanually operable mechanism cooperating with said rtion of the pinion toso move such pinion on 'tudinally to on an the pinion and engine member.

25. An engine starter drive includin a motor-driven shaft, a driving memr mounted thereon for lon 'tudinal movement thereof to engage a mem r ofthe engine to be started, manually operable means for shifting saiddriving member longitudinally into engagement with said engine member,means controlled by said manually operable means and outside the line oftransmission of starting torque for rotating such driving member to aposition for the engagement of said driving member and said en 'nemember in the event of non-registero their engaging parts, and structurein operative association with said shaft and driving member foroccasioning rotary movement of said driving member with said shaft tostart the engine and for effecting disengagement of said driving memberfrom said engine member, automatically and independently of theoperation of said manually operable means, when the engine operatesunder its own power. I

26. An engine starter drive including, in combination, a starting motor,starting means for said motor, a motor-driven rotatable shaft, a drivingmember having provision to mesh with an engine part to be started andmounted on said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof to eifectmeshing engagement, manuall operable means operative y associated withsaid dri member to move it longitudinally towar meshing position andoperatively associated with said motor starter to actuate it but onlyafter moving said driving member into said meshing engagement,mechanical means operatively associated with said manually-operablemeans to receive power-therefrom and operatively associated with saiddriving member to rotatively displace it for'fin registry of saiddriving member with sai engine art to permit g to occur and means oreffecting rotary movement of said driving member with said shaft tostart the engine and for automatically efiecting disengagement of saiddriving member from said engine part when the engine operates under itsown nowen.

e.the engine member an to turn it ar y to a position to avoid abuttingof' 27. An engine starter drive including, in 1 combination, a startingmotor, starting means for said motor, a motor driven rotatable shaft, adriving member having pro- 5 vision to mesh with an engine art to bestarted and mounted on said sha for longitudinal movement thereof toeffect the v meshing engagement, manually operable means operativelyassociated with said drivm ing member to move it longitudinally towardmeshing position and adapted and arranged to be disconnected from saiddriving member when the latter is in such gement, said manuallyoperablevmeans bemg operatively associated with said motor starter toactuate it but only after moving said driving member into said meshingenent, mechanical means operatively asmated with said manually operablemeans go to receive power therefrom and operatively associated with saiddriving member to rotatively displace it for finding registry thereofwith said engine part to permit meshing to occur, said driving memberbeing free to retain anly position to which it is moved by the manua yoperable means before the engine or motor be started, and means forrotating said driving member with said shaft to start the engine and forautomatically effecting so disengagement of said driving member fromsaid engine part when the engine operates under its own power.

28. An engine starter drive including, in combination, an electricstarting motor, a mo- 85 tor starting switch for initial fullenergization of the motor, a rotatable motor-driven shaft, 0. drivingmember having provision to mesh with an engine part to be started andmounted on said shaft for movement longi- 40 tudinally thereof to efiectmeshing engagement, manually operable means operatively associated withsaid driving member to move it longitudinally toward meshing positionand operatively associated with said switch to actuate it but only aftermoving said driving member into said meshin engagement, mechanical meansoperative y associated with said manually-o erable means to receivepower therefrom an operatively associated with said driving member torotatively displace it for findm registry of said driving member withsai engine part to ermit meshing to occur, and means for e ecting rotarymovement of said driving member with said shaft to start the engine andfor automatically efl'ectin disengagement of said member rom said enginepart when the engine operates under its own power.

so WILLIAM L. McGRATH.

